Joint-forming and load-transfer assembly for roadways



`2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. l5,`l938 .1 WN a 4 r .M v I n? QN NN 1 s. O,, o v I sept. s, 1939.

JOINTV-FORMING AND LOAD-TRANSFER :ASSEMBLY F011 RoADwAYs Patented Sept. 5, 1939 r V4 UNITED STATES PATENToFFicE JOINT-FORMING AND LOAD-TRANSFER ASSEMBLY Foa RoApwAYs e Edward A. Niel, Jr., Baltimore, Md. Application September 15,11938, Serial No. 230,024

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a combined joint-forming and load-transfer assembly for use in roadways, pavements, and the like, and more particularly to such as assembly-in concrete roadways constituting a positive joint-forming and load-transfer device.

One of the objects of the invention is the construction of a joint-forming device having a dowel assembly associated therewith, for use in a concrete roadway or the like, said assembly serving to form a joint normal to the sub-grade of the roadway with the dowels parallel to each other and likewise parallel to the nished grade.

Another purpose of theinvention is the build- 16 ing of a unitary dowel assembly and joint-forming means for use in a concrete roadway, said joint-forming means being removable and said device having means for anchoring and properly positioning the assembly inthe roadway.-

Still another aim is the formation of aloadtransfer device having a removable contraction plate associated therewith, said plate being operable to form a joint upon the laying of the concrete and having means whereby said plate may be adjusted during the concrete laying operation and subsequently removed to form a joint associated with a load-transfer assembly.

The invention of the instant` application is an improvement on the load-transfer device shown in Johnson Patent No. 2,104,866, issued January l1, 1938.

Other aims and objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description hereinafter appearing, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings forming a part hereof, and to which reference is now made, and in which- 1 I.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the novel combined joint-forming and dowel assembly Vprior to its insertion in the concrete pavement or roadway and showing the relative positioniof the removable joint-forming contraction platev and the anchoring means;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the manner of mounting the removable joint-forming plate and dowel assembly in a concrete roadway;

50 Fig. 4 is a side elevational view on a slightly reduced scale of the removable joint-forming plate;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, yshowing modied means for positioning the removable jointforming plate relative to the supporting base of 55 the assembly; V

Fig. 6 isa view similar to that of Fig. 4, showing a m'odied form of removable joint-forming plate.

In Patent No. 2,104,866,7referred'to above there is disclosed-a load-*transfer device for roadways A to be used in conjunction with an expansion joint '5' orr expansion material. TheV joint or material forms no integral part of the ydevicefdisclosed in the aforementioned patent and no'pr'ovision or means is disclosed for forming a joint. The instant invention, on the other hand, contemplates l0 a novel joint-forming means as an integral part of the device and comprises a removable lcontraction plate adapted yto be positioned normal to the dowels, means being provided to guide said plate to the aforementioned position and to hold same there. "Subsequent to this operation the concrete or other material is poured to form concrete slabs, as will be understooiand afterthe concrete has suiiiciently hardened, means is provided forremoving the plate -forming a space between the slabs, such space being filled with any approved non-extruding sealing material having expansion and contraction propertiesy well known in the art. Means are provided for permanently anchoring the device in the roadway prior'to the'pouring of the concrete and subsequent to the removal of the aforementioned joint-forming contraction plate. f

Referring now to the drawings, the vreference character A designates the combined joint-forming dowel assembly which comprises an elongated supporting member III, in the form of an angle iron, said angle iron having a horizontal portion II and a Vertical portion I2 at right angles thereto.

A series of similar dowel pins or bars are designated by the reference numeral I3, each pin or bar being characterized by a horizontal section I4and` a downwardly' extending curved section I5, the latter projecting from said horizontal section I4 and being secured, 'as by welding or the like, tothe horizontalandv vertical portions Y'I I and `|2 of the supporting member I Il. By reference to Figs. v1 and 2 of the drawings it will be noted that the downwardly extending curved portion I5 of each dowel is positioned in a plane angularly disposed with respect to the horizontal and vertical portions I I and I2 of the supporting member I0. Also it will ybe noted that the dowels on the left hand side of the device A are oppositely positioned with respect to the dowelson the right hand lside of the device, that is to say, in intersecting planes. Secured tothe horizontal portion I4 of each dowel, as by welding or the like, are a pairsof spaced horizontally extending spaced rods I6-I6a, said rods serving to guide into position a removable joint-forming contraction plate P, to which further reference will be shortly made. A plurality of washers I1 are welded or otherwise secured, in spaced relation to the horizontal portion II of the supporting member I adjacent the free edge thereof and extending therebeyond, and a plurality of similar washers I8, in vertical alignment with washers I1, are secured, also by welding or the like, to the horizontal portion I4 of a plurality of dowels I3 to one side thereof and forwardly of the rods I6-I6a. By referenceto Fig. 3 of the drawings it will be noted that the sub-grade of the road is designated by reference character G and the concrete that hardens into slabs by reference character C. In assembling the device for use a combined joint-forming and dowel assembly A is positioned. in the sub-grade G of the roadway normal thereto. A plurality of pins I9 are then inserted through the aligned washers I1 and I8 and driven into sub-grade G to position the device in the surface of the latter. The pins I9 adjacent the opposed ends of angle iron I0, have associated therewith anchoring rods or braces 20. Each of the latter is equipped with end washers 2l and 22, welded or structurally integral therewith and positioned at the ends thereof. The ends of pins IS-pass through the washer 2I, while the other washer 22 receives an anchoring pin 23, the latter being driven into the subgrade G of the roadway. Secured to the horizontal portion II of the supporting member I0 along the length thereof are a plurality of similar spaced clips 24. Each clip is in the form of an angle iron having vertical and horizontal portions 25 and 26 respectively, the latter being welded or otherwise secured to the horizontal portion II of the supporting member I0, while the vertical portion 25 is positioned parallel to but in spaced relationship to the vertical portion I2 of said supporting member. (See Fig. 3.) It will be noted by reference to thefigure just referred to that the vertical portions I2 and 25 of the supporting member and clip, respectively, are positioned beneath and in vertical alignment with the rod II--Ia welded to the horizontal portions I4 of the dowel bars I3.

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be noted that the joint-forming plate P is of a length substantially equal to that of the dowel assembly and is formed of a relatively thin plate of metal or the like. It will be noted that the plate is substantially rectangular in shape, having a top edge 30, parallel side edges 3I-32, and a cutaway bottom edge 33. Projecting inwardly from the bottom edge 33 are substantially rectangularly shaped recesses or seats 34 arranged in uniformly spaced relationship intermediate the edges 3| and 32 of the plate. It will also be seen that a plurality of projecting portions 35 extend downwardly, the edge 36 of each projecting portion 35' being in alignment with the bottom wall 33. The distance between adjacent seats 34 is equal to the distance between the horizontal portions I4 of the dowels I3 and in operative position the plate P is permitted to drop downwardly between the bars I6I6, each seat 34 receiving the horizontal portion I4 of a dowel I3. The plate P rests on the dowels I4, the bottom edge 33 of said plate being received intermediate the supporting member I0 and clips 24, while the projecting portions 35 are also received in the same marmer. It will thus be seen that the edge 31 of the plate P, which is positioned above the bottom edge 33 thereof, forms a space 38 intermediate the bottom edge`31 of the plate and the upper edge of the vertical wall I2 of the supporting member IIJ. The seats 34 are made of slightly greater width than the diameter of the hoizontal portions I4 of the dowels I3, whereby the plate may be transversely adjusted with respect to the roadway. Also each plate is provided with a pair of apertures 38-39 adjacent the upper corners thereof for a purpose to be referred to hereinafter.

From the above description it will be apparent that the entire assembly A, formed as described, is positioned on the sub-grade G in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Concrete is then poured to form adjacent slabs on each side of the plate P and, after the concrete has sufliciently hardened, hooks or the like are inserted in the corner apertures 38 and 39, and the plate P withdrawn. This forms a space between adjacent slabs constituting an expansion joint, which space is preferably lled with some approved non-extruding sealing material. The brace rods 20 and the locking pins I9 and 23 hold the unit in its desired'true position and in which position it is adapted to withstand the working loads imposed thereon during the laying of the roadway. The brace rods resist the distributing forces exerted by the nishing machine and hold the dowel bars and removable joint-forming plate in their correct position at all times. The brace rods and anchoring pins, as will be understood, remain in the concrete C and provide reinforcement for the the dowel assembly, the latter being very effective in providing an efficient joint of great load-transfer value, as well as of strength and rigidity.

Referring to Fig. 5, there is shown a slightly modified form of the means for positioning the removable joint-forming plate relative to the supporting base of the assembly. The supporting base is designated as in the preferred form of the invention by reference numerals I I and I2. However, in lieu of clips 24, exible pieces of metal 40 are secured, as by welding, to the bottom surface of the horizontal portion II of the supporting member I0 in spaced relation along said bottom surface. A guide is formed for the downwardly projecting portions 35 and the bottom edge 33 of the plate P by bending said pieces of metal intermediate opposed edges to form a vertical portion 4I in spaced relation to the vertical wall I2 of the supporting member I0. The manner in which this is accomplished is indicated by the dotted line inoperative position of the wall 4I. Otherwise the construction is that shown in the preferred embodiment of Figs- 1 to 4 inclusive.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modified form of jointforming plate, in which a plurality of the seats 34 have been eliminated so that each seat 34il rests upon a plurality of the horizontal portions I4 of the dowels I3.

It is believed that the various advantages arising from the novel joint-forming and dowel assembly just described will be easily apparent to those skilled in the art. Obviously the invention is susceptible to more or less modification to what has been shown and described, .and desirable changes may suggest themselves to those working in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is contemplated to cover all such modifications and to be limited in this respect only as may be necessary by the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. A load transfer and joint-forming assembly comprising a supporting member, a plurality of spaced dowels secured to and extending transversely of said member, aligned guide means on said dowels and supporting member, and a removable joint-forming plate positioned on said dowels by said guide means.

2. A load transfer and joint-forming assembly comprising a supporting member, a. plurality of spaced dowels secured to and extending transversely of said member, a pair of spaced guide rods secured to and extending transversely of said dowels, and a removable joint-forming plate supported on said dowels intermediate said rods, and means on said supporting member for guiding said plate into position on said dowels.

3. A load transfer and joint-forming assembly comprising a supporting member, a plurality of spaced dowels secured to and extending transversely of said member, and a removable jointforming plate supported on said dowels, said plate having recesses receiving said dowels, and clips on said supporting member for guiding said plate into position.

4. A load transfer and joint-forming assembly comprising a supporting member, a plurality of spaced dowels Ysecured to and extending transversely of said member, and a removable jointforming plate supported on said dowels, said plate having recesses receiving said dowels and spaced clips secured to said supporting member receiving portions of said plate to guide the latter into operative position.

EDWARD A. NIEL, JR. 

